Humans & Society

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GROW UP A Neandertal’s partial skeleton found in Spain comes from a 7.7-year-old child who grew at a rate much like that of youngsters today, scientists report. However, the ancient youngster displays relatively slow backbone and brain development in comparison with present-day kids.

Paleoanthropology Group MNCN-CSIC

PUZZLE PLANT After bursting on the scene in the 1960s, marijuana remains a substance with uncertain effects on mental health and medical conditions.

SEASTOCK/iStockphoto

EMBRYO, INTERRUPTED A 5-day-old human embryo is usually composed of about 200 cells in a hollow ball configuration called a blastocyst (left). Embryos edited to remove the OCT4 gene (right) fail to make normal blastocysts.